BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – At Juniper Elementary School, the technology-loving school of Bend-La Pine Schools, the whole school celebrates Computer Science Education Week with a full week of hands-on activities and engaging.
Older students participate in a competition to design the best computer program, the library has turned into an interactive computer hardware museum, younger students participate in unplugged computer activities to learn basic computer skills and concepts coding and all teachers participate in national time. code effort, committing to teaching students at least one hour of coding in the classroom.
“We want to promote creativity, thoughtful thinking and hard work,” said director Dan Wolnick. “It’s a great way to open up this world of computing to children and prepare them for the next century of learning in a fair way. ”
Scott McDonald, director of information technology, says IT efforts in the district keep growing and improving.
At the elementary level, students learn coding and computers often through hands-on experiences, like programmable Sphero robots, and unplugged lessons, like the Central Oregon STEM Hub’s Computer Hardware Museum.
“Students learn basic concepts using their bodies and voices to make these lessons practical, screen-free and collaborative,” McDonald said.
Many middle and high schools in Bend-La Pine Schools offer computer and programming classes, with over 900 students across the district currently enrolled in such a course.
Students in teacher Don Carter’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Computer Science course at Bend Senior High have been working on exciting and innovative projects since the start of the school year, learning advanced skills related to assembly, programming and testing of computers.
They recently completed their work on so-called Raspberry Pi computers, devices designed to be an affordable way to learn coding and programming. Through a partnership with the Central Oregon STEM Hub, the computers will be used to teach students across the region how to code and program in a variety of programming languages.
“I’m very proud of the Lava Bears in our IB computer class,” Carter said. “As part of their second year studies, they completed a project that will benefit the Central Oregon STEM Hub and potentially students across the High Desert Educational Service District. “
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